Airplane package transfer apparatus



Aug. 11, 1931. L, 5, ADAMS 1,818,835

AIRPLANE PACKAGE TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

INVENTORQ Lyile S. Adams ATT RNEY.

Aug. 11, 1931. L. s. ADAMS ,818,

, AIRPLANE PACKAGE TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE L' YTLE S. ADAMS, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T AIRWAYS PATENT CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AIRPLANE PACKAGE TRANSFER APPARATUS Application filed September 14, 1928.

This invention relates to transferring mail and express matter,-fuel, supplies and other things between moving airplanes and the ground,'and aims to rovide safe and cer- B tain means for both ropping and picking up packages at convenient'locations, such as small landing fields, roofs of high buildings, decks of ships and special locations where airplanes cannot ordinarily land with safety. -A further object is to drop one or more packages and pick up another or others as a consecutive operation, thereby enabling the plane to serve a number of stations upon its route without the delay incident to landing or circling back for repeating the operation, and increasing the carrying capacity of the plane in the air.

Other aims and advantages of the inven-, tion appear in connection with the following description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein l i Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ground apparatus for handling sacks of mail or express matter;

Fig. 2 is a part side view and part axial section of the chute portion thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the anchor socket member for the package carrier, Fig. 3 being a part side view and part axial section, and Fig. 4 an end view, respectively;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical axial section through the outlet portion of the chute and support for the anchor socket;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the catapult or package carrier projector, drawn to a larger scale than Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is an axial section through the anchor ball member on the end of the airplane cable.

In the form of the invention shown, the airplane (not shown) is equipped with a power operated reel for paying out and pulling in a trailing cable 11 (see Figs. 1 and 2), fitted with a terminal ball or plummet 12 of several pounds weight serving as an anchor for attaching the load, which may be packed in a sack or other suitable carrier 13, adapted to be attached to the anchor and cable 11 by means of a short cable 14 fitted with a slotted cup or socket member.

Serial No. 305,970.

15, (see Figs 3 and 1), for receiving or engaging the anchor (see Fig. 5).

The ground apparatus (by which is meant the apparatus not carried by the airplane) is mounted on a circular base 16, preferably twenty five or thirty feet in diameter, carrying a trap comprising a receiving hopper and delivery chute structure, and a projecting device, all supported on a suitable turn table for enabling it to be pointed into the wind so as to facilitate the operation of the airplane during the transfer.

The receiving hopper is preferably built of sheet steel, having vertical side walls 17 spaced twenty five feet or so apart at the entrance, and an upwardly sloping bottom 18, the side walls and bottom curving and converging into a narrow opening or chute at the inner end only large enou h to permit the anchor ball 12 to pass. See Figs. 1, 2 and 5.) The side walls are twelve feet or more in height at the entering end, topped by inturned downwardly sloping guide walls 19, down which the carrier 13 may slide into the hopper beneath, where it is trapped, and between which the cable 11 is guided as the airplane passes overhead, dragging the anchor ball and carrier 13 into the chute end of theho per where the latter is automatically detached and brought to rest. Thus the curved side walls 17 in combination with the sloping bottom and guide walls 19, all converging toward the delivery point, afford a'substantially closed receiving hopper for trapping the trailer and carrier sack to be delivered while perinitting the passage of the cable and guiding the trailing ball to the delivery point. The bottom and side walls of the hopper and chute may be faced with padded canvas, rubber, leather or other suitable material for cushioning and absorbing the movement of the sack.

The inturned guide walls forming the top of the hopper prevent the sack from bouncing out of the hopper and prevent the end of the cable 11 from whipping and fouling any part of he structure when detached from the sack. Their edges approach each other so closely for the greater part of their length as to form a narrow slot adequate for the passage of the cable but preventing the anchor ball 12 frompassing between them, thus trapping it in the chute portion of the hopper and insuring that it shall pass out through the opening provided for it.

At the outlet of the chute is the cradle 20 for supporting another socket 15' attached to the sack or package carrier 13 to be picked up by the airplane. Each socket has a slot 21 extending along one side to permit the cable 11 to slide into it with the anchor ball 12. Flexible fingers or spring clips 22 may be provided for holding the socket on.

the cradle seat with the slot 21 uppermost and in line with the cable slot opening between the guide walls 19 at the chute outlet. (See Fig. 5.) The sockets 15 also have lugs for attaching the ends of the cables 14 that connect them to the sacks, and the seat 20 has a groove 24 in its bottom to receive these lugs and attached cables.

Each socket member 15 has an orifice 25 in its closed end that is adapted to receive the slotted tubular spring member or stud 26 on the anchor ball 12, the enlarged rounded end of the spring or stud member snapping into the orifice and holding the anchorball and socket together for the purpose of lowering a carrier from the airplane. An adjusting screw 27 is provided within the tubular spring member (see Fig. 7) for controlling the amount of pull necessary to engage and disengage the stud from the socket orifice. The pull on the cable 11 is suflicient to disengage the stud from the orifice in the socket when the latter reaches the opening in the end of the chute portion of the hopper, through which it is too large .to pass.

A catapult 28 is provided for starting the sack 13 as it is picked up by the cable 11 to relieve the shock on the latter. This catapult may be of any convenient form having a support for the sack that may be projected along the line of flight in synchronism with the passage of the airplane so as to put the sack in motion just at the time that the anchor ball 12 enters the socket member 15' and picks it off from the seat 20. In the form of device shown in the drawings, (see Figs. 5 and 6), the catapult has a shaft 29 mounted in guides 30 in a suitable frame, and provided with a spring 31 for projecting it. The shaft may be latched back with the spring compressed by a pawl 32 engaging one of the teeth of the ratchet 33, from which it may be withdrawn to release the catapult by means of a spring 34, connected to an outer arm 40 which projects through the slot 41 in the frame. The spring is normally held inoperative by a link 36, connected to the outer arm 42 of the detent 35, and operative upon tri ping the detent 35 by the movement of t e socket 15'. The socket member 15 hits the detent 35 as it leaves i seat and trips it, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the spring 34 and disengaging the pawl, permitting the catapult to throw the sack forward and upward along the path of flight. The catapult may be reset and cooked by means of a cable 37 and small hand operated winch 38, the amount of compression of the spring 31 being sufiicient to suit the weight of the sack 13 and its load and insure its proper discharge. Sufficient length of connecting cable 14 is provided to permit the necessary lapse of time for the catapult to act before the cable 11 becomes taut and picks up the load. A bumper 39 of rubber or other suitable material may be provided for cushioning the stroke of the catapult.

The invention contemplates the completely automatic functioning of the apparatus for dropping one carrier and picking up another as a continuous act, all that is required of the aviator being to drop to the level at which the trailing anchor end of the cable and the suspended carrier 13 will enter the hopper, and then guide the airplane directly over the hopper in the direction in which the chute points. The carrier and socket 15 are detached from the anchor ball 12 when the socket engages the rib 40 surrounding the opening between the guide walls at the end of the chute, thereby permitting the anchor ball to pass through the opening and enter the socket 15 attached to the carrier 13', the cable 11 sliding through the gap above the opening into the slot 21 in the socket and thus reaching the orifice 25, through. which it passes, the anchor ball being retained in the socket to secure it to the cable.

Further movement of the cable and anchor ball pulls the socket 15 off from its seat 20, thereby tripping the catapult release, and as the socket moves away (as shown at 15 in Fig. 5) the catapult springs and throws the carrier 13 forwardl along the line of flight so that it is picked up on the fly as the connecting cable 14 is straightened out by the forward motion of the airplane.

The ground station attendants pick up the deposited carrier 15, and reset the catapult and its release trigger when placing the next carrier 15 to be picked up, but no action on their part is required during the transfer operation.

Thus the invention, if used as is contemplated, in connection with an automaticreel upon the airplane for pulling in the cable 11 immediately upon the release of the carrier 13 and engagement of the carrier 13, provides for makingthe transfer from plane to ground and return without any attention from the airplane pilot other than to start the automatic reel and uide the plane during the performance. Tie may also attach cable is dropped by the reel.

. The apparatus may be designed with strong, rigid parts, adequate to withstand the stresses imposed and strains developed, and the shape and arrangement of the walls of the hopper and chute are such as to catch the trailing load and bring it to rest withoutundue shock, and prevent fouling of the 15 airplane carrier parts with the ground apparatus.

The advantages of the invention are obvious in permitting an exchange of carriers at any speed of the plane-required for safe navigation without any attention on the part of the pilot other than to guide the plane at the pro er height above the ground apparatus. T is may readily be accomplished with the aid of the usual wind direction and velocity signals and elevation markers for making landings.

The invention is notrestricted to the details of construction shown in the drawings, but what is claimed is as follows:

1. Ground apparatus for transferring articles to and from a moving airplane having a flexible suspending member suspended therefrom provided with a detachable conj nection having separable members, one memond connection member and carry it away the plane an with its attached carrier.

2. Ground apparatus for transferring articles to and from a moving airplane having a flexible sus ending member attached to provided with a detachable connection at its extremity for attaching a carrier, said apparatus comprising a carrier support and a combined hop er and gulde means for receiving a carrier rom the plane and detaching it and guiding the extremity of said flexible sus nding member to the carrier support, an means associated with said detachable connection for picking up a second carrier positioned at said carrier support, said hopper having its side walls provided with inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along their top edges for preventing undue bouncing of said carrier i and whipping or coiling of said flexible suspendin member and constituting a trap for the en thereof as it is guided to said carrier support.

3. A ground station having an upwardly sloping floor, convergingv side walls with a wide opening between their spread ends, and inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along the top edges of said side walls, said floor, side walls and deflectors narrowing in width toward the point of convergence to constitute a trap and .guide chute having an open top providing a cable slot to the discharge opening. I

4. A ground station, comprising converging side walls with a wide opening between their spread ends and inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along the top edges of said side walls, said side walls and deflectors narrowing in width toward the point of convergence to constitute a tra and guide chute having an open top provid ing a cable slot extending to the dischar e opening, and an internal rib on said side walls at said opening forming a contracted throat for disengaging the anchor.

5. A ground station 6f an airplane package transfer apparatus, comprising a receiving chamber having'converging side walls with a-wide opening between their spread ends and inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along their top edges, said side walls and deflectors narrowing in width toward the point of convergence to constitute a trap and guide chute, and a support for a package carrier adjacent to and in line with the discharge-end of said chute.

6. A ground station of an airplane package transfer apparatus, comprising a receiving chamber having converging side walls with a wide opening between their spread ends and inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along their top edges, said side walls and deflectors narrowing in width toward the point of convergence to constitute a trap and guide chute, and a support for a package carrier adjacent to and in line with the discharge end of said chute, and means associated therewith to project a package carrier along a path of movement following approximately the axis of said guide chute.

7. A ground station of an airplane package transfer apparatus comprising a receiving chamber having converging side walls with a wide opening between their spread ends and inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along their top edges, said side walls and deflectors narrowing in width to-- (point of convergence to constitute ward the a trap an guide chute and a support for a package carrier adjacent to and in line with the discharge end of said chute, said support having means associated therewith to project a package carrier along a path of movement following approximately the axis of said uide chute, means for timing the action 0 said projecting means and an adjustable power impelling means for said projecting means.

8. A ground station for an airplane package transfer apparatus of the type having a flexible suspending member connected to the plane provided with an anchor for attaching the package carrier at its free end, said station-comprising trap for the anchor including a guide .for the suspending member, a holder for positioning a waiting carrier COI1I16Ci31011'111 line with said guide, and a support for the waiting carrier, in combination with means for projecting said carrier support along the path of travel of said suspending member, and means associated with said holder for tripping said projecting means when the carrier connection held thereby is engaged by the anchor and re moved.

9. A ground station for an airplane package transfer apparatus of the type having a flexible suspending member connected to the plane provided with a two part detachable connection for the package carrier at its free end, said station comprising a hopper and detaching means for detaching a suspended carrier, and having a guide for the suspending member, a holder for positioning and attaching a waiting carrier connection in line with said guide, and a support for the waiting carrier, in combination'with means for projecting said. carrier support along the path of travel of said suspending member, and means associated with said holder for tripping said projecting means when the connection part held thereby is removed by the suspending member.

10. A two part detachable connection for the carrier suspending cable of an airplane transfer apparatus comprising a ball member and a socket member, the ball member having a flexible stud element and the socket member having a cooperating receptacle, and means for adjusting the flexibility of the stud element to vary the weight that the connection will support.

11. A two part detachable connection for I the carrier suspending cable of an airplane transfer apparatus comprising a ball memher and a socket member, the ball member having a stud element and the socket member having a cooperating receptacle, the socket member being of substantial length and large enough to receive the ball, and a slot in the side of the socket member for the suspending cable.

12. A two part attachable connection for the carrier suspending cable of an airplane transfer apparatus comprising' an elongated socket member provided with an axial orifice adapted to receive a cooperating member from either axial direction, and said socket member having means permitting passage of the cable through said socket member when the cooperating member is engaged in one of its cooperating positions.

13. A ball and socket connection for the carrier suspending cable of an automatic transfer apparatus, the socket element being of substantial length and large enough to receive the ball'and having a small orifice in its closed end, the ball element having a terminal stud adapted to be received from the exterior in said orifice, a slot in the side of the socket element connecting the open end thereof with said orifice, and cable attaching means on the side of the socket remote from said orifice end.

14. A ball and socket connection for the carrier suspending cable of an automatic transfer apparatus, the socket element being of substantial length and having a small orifice in its closed end and the ball element having a hollow flexible walled stud adapted to be received in said orifice, means for adjusting the flexibility of said stud, a slot in the side of the socket element connecting the open end thereof with said orifice, and cable attaching means on the side of the socket.

15. A ball and socket connection for the carrier suspending cable of an automatic transfer apparatus, the socket element being of substantial length and large enough to receive the ball and the ball element having a hollow axially slitted stud adapted to be received from the exterior in an orifice in the closed end of the socket element, a screw in said stud for adjusting its flexibility, a slot in the side of the socket element connecting the open end thereof with said orifice, and cable attaching means on the side of the socket remote from said orifice end.

16. Ground apparatus for transferring articles to and from a moving airplane having a trailing suspending member supported from the plane provided with a detachable connection at its extremity, one of the members of said detachable connection being secured to said suspending member, and a carrier secured to a cooperating member of said detachable connection, said apparatus comprising a receiving hopper for receiving a carrier from the plane having guide means therefrom to a delivery point and means at the delivery point for detaching said. carrier connection member and supporting a second carrier connection member in line with the path of movement of the end of the suspending member, whereby the latter will engage said second carrier connection member and carry it away with its attached carrier, and a catapult device having a trigger mechanism in the path of movement thereof adapted to be tripped to aid in starting said carrier, the impelling force being adjustable to suit the weight of the carrier and load.

17. Ground apparatus fortransferring articles to and from a moving airplane having secured to said suspending member, and a carrier secured to a cooperating member of said'detachable connection, said apparatus comprising a combined hopper and delivery chute for receiving a carrier fromthe plane and directing the trailing end of the suspending member to the delivery point, and means at the delivery point for detaching said carrier connection member and support ing asecond carrier connection mem 7 line with the path of movement of the end of the suspending member, whereby the latter will engage said second carrier connection member and carry it away with its attached carrier, and a catapult device having a trigger mechanism in the path of movement thereof adapted to be tripped thereby to aid in starting said carrier.

18. Ground apparatus for transferring articles to and from a moving airplane having a flexible suspending member supported from the plane provided with a detachable connection at its extremity, one of the members of said detachable connection being secured to said flexible suspending member, and a carrier secured to another member of said detachable connection,- said apparatus comprising a combined hopper and guide for receiving a carrier from .the plane and guiding the end of the flexible suspending member to the transfer point, and means at the transfer point for detaching'thecarrier connection member and supporting a second carrier connection member in line with the path of movement of the end of the flexible suspending member, whereby thelatter will engage said second, carrierconnection member and carry it away with its attached carrier.

19. Ground apparatus for transferring articles to and from a moving airplane having a flexible suspending member supported from the plane provided with a detachable connection at its extremity, one of the members of said detachable connection being secured to said flexible suspending member, and a carrier secured to another member of said detachable connection, said apparatus comprising a trap having hopper and guide means for receiving a carrier from the plane and guiding the end of the flexible suspending member to the transfer point, and means at the transfer point for detaching the carrier connection member and supporting a second carrier connection member in line with the path of movement of the end of the flexible suspending member, whereby the latter will engage said second carrier connection member and carry a package carriers,

er in,-

it away with the attached carrier, said hopper having its side walls provided with inwardly and downwardly inclined deflectors along their top edges for preventing undue bouncing of saidcarrier and whipping or coiling of said flexible suspending member as it is guided to said transfer point.

20.. In package transfer apparatus for airplanes having a trailing suspension means depending from the plane and provided with combined delivery and pickup means for package carriers, a ground trap provided with a receiving hopper for exchanging the and a package projecting device adapted to be set in operatlon'by the pickin up of acarrier.

21'. 11 package transfer apparatus for airplanes having a trailingsuspension means depending from the plane and provided with combined delivery and pick up means for package carriers, a ground trap having a receiving hopper and a chute in combination with a package launching device.

22. In package transfer apparatus for airplanes having trailing suspension means depending from the plane and provided with pick upmeans for package carriers, a ground trap comprising guide means for guiding said pick-up means and a package projecting device located substantially in almement with said trap adaptedto be set in operation by the picking up of a carrier.

23..In a ground apparatus for airplane transfer means, a trap comprising a flaring guide into which the airplane trailer may enter, a portion of the trap substantially circumscribing the. converging portion of e traileriand article to be delivered the plane forsuspending a trailer carrying the article that is to be delivered, said trap terminating in a circumferential converging delivery end, and means at said delivery end i to disengage the cable and anchor to pass through.

26. A package transfer apparatus for airplanes coniprlsing a trailing suspension means depending from the plane and protrap comprising a flaring ground passage of the cable,-

in a converging delivery end to consaid trailer and to permit vided with combined delivery and pick-up means for package carriers, and a cooperating ground trap provided with a receiving hopper terminating in a substantially closed end for the exchange of the package carrier.

27. A package transfer apparatus for airplanes comprising a trailing suspension means de ending from the plane and provided wit combined delivery and pick-up means for (package carriers, and a cooperating groun trap provided with -a receiving ho per terminating in a substantially closed end provided with an orifice for the simultaneous exchange of the package carriers.

28. A package transfer apparatus'f or airplanes comprlsing a trailing suspension means depending 'from' the plane and provided with combined delivery and pick-up means for ackage carriers and a cooperating ground trap provided with a receiving hopper terminating in a substantially closed end for the automatic exchange of the package carriers.

29. In a ground apparatus for airplane transfer means, a trap providing an open end into which the airplane trailer may enter, saidtrap havin converging side, bottom and upper walls or guiding said trailer to the delivery end at the upper part thereof and trapping said trailer therein.

30. In a ground apparatus for airplane transfer means, a substantially triangularly sha ed trap having'an open base end into which the airplane trailer may enter, the

walls of said trap converging in a delivery chute at the apex'end, for guiding said trailer to the delivery chute and trapping it therein.

31.. In a package transfer apparatus for airplanes having a trailing suspension means depending from the plane and provided with combined delivery and pick-up means for package carriers, a ground, trap having a receiving hopper and a chute in combination with a package launching de-- vice comprising releasing mechanism associated with said chute.

32. In package transfer apparatus for means de ending from the plane and provided wit pick-up means for package carriers, a ound trap comprising guide means for gui ing said pick-up means to the location of a waiting carrier, and a package projecting device having means at said location adapted to beset in operation by the pickin up of a carrier.

33. 11 an air lane mail bag delivering receiving trough on a field, a wide flaring guide mouth leading into the trough for receiving the head and bag for guiding the same into the trou h,-means for automatically releasing the ag from the head upon the entrance of the head into the trough, a shell slidably fitted in the forward end of the trough for receiving the head, a mail bag to be delivered to the plane connected with saidshell, and means actuated by the shell for projecting the mail bag forwardly of the trough and shell.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

LYTLE S. ADAMS.

and depositing evice, the combination of a trailer ro e of an airplane, a head on the lower en of said rope and a mail bag detachably connected with said head, a mail receiving trough on a field, a wide flaring guide mouth leading into the trough for receiving the head and bag for guiding the same into the trough, means for automatically releasing the bag from the head upon the entrance of the head into the trough, a shell slidably fitted in the forward end of the trough for receiving the head, and a mail bag to be delivered to the plane connected with said shell. 1 

